Population:

13th largest U.S. State by population, with 6,664,195 people (2009 estimate).
18th largest state in the country by area, at 71,342 square miles.

Largest city: Seattle

Median income:$58,078 (2008 estimate)

Climate:
Yearly rainfall: 27.7 inches per year
Yearly snowfall: 7 inches per year in Seattle; 49 inches per year in Spokane
Temperatures (High/Low) in capital city of Olympia:
January, 44/31; July, 77/49

Foreclosures:
Foreclosure activity for 2009 increased in Washington over the prior year. There was a total of 35,268 properties with filings. That works out to a rate of one filing for every 78 households, which compares to the United States average of 45, and is a little more than one percent of the state’s housing units.

Those figures represent a 35 percent increase over 2008 and a 132 percent increase over 2007.

In 2008 there were about 86,900 existing homes (including condos, co-ops, and single-family homes but excluding new homes) sold in Washington, compared to about 133,500 sold in 2007.

Economy:
Once an economy based on agricultural, fishing, and trade, Washington became one of the major technology centers in the world thanks to Microsoft, which is based in Redmond. The aircraft manufacturer Boeing is also based in the state as are Nintendo of America and Amazon, Starbucks and Costco. Washington produces a variety of agricultural products including apples, cherries, grapes, wheat and 90 percent of the nation's raspberries. The state is also becoming known as one of America's best wine producer

Noteworthy:
About 60 percent of Washingtonians live in the Seattle area. Much of the area to the east is rural.